Manics up to 94, maybe up to 96 is probably a near-universal favourite. You wouldn't find many who don't like the Pixies either, and Smashing Pumpkins is probably a good choice too. I still don't get Interpol though. I'd say 80% of people would enjoy at least one Idlewild album too.

radiohead of course have their moments, not personally a fan but i did love ok computer. muse had a great second album [though everyone argues with me about this] and are great live, but not a band i'd sell my soul for.

As far as this board goes, it seems like everbody who's heard 65daysofstatic raves about them (me included). There was one dissenting voice (see the "What acts will make it this year" thread I think) but even he wasn't saying he disliked them just that he didn't see what the fuss was about.

So: Jeff Buckley, Radiohead and Interpol? Its quite strange how absolutely EVERYONE likes interpol on here, as none of my mates really get them - even the ones who like JD. BTW, I don't like Muse all that much - I have a lot of respect for them, they were one of the first bands I saw and they are trememndous live, but I don't particularly enjoy listening to them on record. I actually think Matt Bellamy has a really good voice, but it grates on me after a while.

i think they are cool live and rock well and have great bass noises...
but they lack something that i look for in the core of it...
... too histrionic maybe? Muse are good, but I can't really like them... I would say they are slightly lacking in substance.

I have to admit, I do actually own Showbiz and like some other Muse songs. But then there's the songs I don't like. For example, Plug in Baby is a musical travesty, I find it offensive to my ears and have to apologise to then whenever I inadvertently hear it.

I probably couldn't put into words how much I love Radiohead, and would never even attempt to through fear of injustice. All I can say is dedicate some time to listening to them closely - Perhaps in a dark room with a nice pair of headphones...

good call on the velvet underground. and definitely interpol. and what about the beatles? surely nobody can dislike them (except on principal of course, which is the crappest excuse i've ever heard for people disliking things)

I prefer The Beatles to The 'Stones. But it depends on what sort of 'star-rating' we've all got to agree on to class them as 'liked'. I own a Buckley album, but I can't be arsed with it, so he's out. And, sorry to got against the flow, but I personally can't be arsed with 'The Holy Bible' either. My favourite Manics album is 'Gold Against The Soul'. But then I've never had taste.

And today, I'm in a bad mood cos I thought The Bill was on last night and it wasn't. Unhappy.

I like Rolling Stones is a good call, quite a few DISers seem to dislike the Beatles (although I, personally favour them over the stones).
The Velvet Undergroung I like but I don't think so many DISers will rate them personally (although they may not knock their reputation)

So my suggestion would be the Cure. Surprisingly universally popular. (awaits cresendo of contradiction)

Thankyou empress for making me feel slightly less of a lonely loser! Now, if only everyone else would admit it...

I can go with The Cure. I'll accept that, if everyone else is willing...(and according to DiS, it seems John Peel is the one uniting factor everyone has, everyone whose rated him has given him five. Not that he's a band...)

I think Joy Division are overated, as are Radiohead/Manics, etc. I don't see this thread ever being settled, but, who knows ? I would suggest an absurd act, but I've already done it probably and we should limit the amount of times one person can pull the same joke in a short timescale.

I'd go for John Peel, as his death was worse, for me, than any music star could possibly be, as he directed me towards a very large precentage of the music I love. But I know there are people who didn't rate him, for musical reasons, rather than as a vapid publicity stunt, like Tony Parsons.

No, I've got it, on the album Noise A Go Go. It's about 4 seconds long, the entire album having 59 tracks in about 24 minutes. Those Japanese folks sure know how to get you up and dancing, for 4 seconds.

oh i feel rather pleased that a thread i started has lasted so long. Finding a band that united us all is a bit pointless i suppose, especially as the forum is created so that we can discuss and disagree on each others views and bitch about bands and each other? But i just thought it would be cool if there was one that 'did it' for us all. I think the closest we've come is - radiohead, joy division. both very good calls indeed. (ive now read every posting on here - sad sad boy).